6 Best Edward Arnold Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 10, 2026

Edward Arnold brought an imposing, commanding physicality to Hollywood, often playing powerful businessmen and political bosses whose corruption hid real complexity. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington pits an idealistic senator against corruption, Meet John Doe invents a fictional everyman whose speeches spark a movement, You Can’t Take It with You clashes an eccentric family with stiff wealthy in-laws, and Easy Living gets a woman mistaken for a tycoon’s mistress over a fur coat. Come and Get It and Diamond Jim round out the list.

Meet John Doe (1941)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A fabricated newspaper hoax about a suicidal everyman spirals into an unstoppable political movement.

Directed by Frank Capra · 2h 03m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, Fandor Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 85% Metacritic 73

A naive, idealistic new senator battles entrenched political corruption in Washington.

Directed by Frank Capra · 2h 10m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar8 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

TMDB ★ 8.0

Boyd Irwin features in this comedy about an eccentric, free-spirited family's daughter who falls for the son of a wealthy banker.

Directed by Frank Capra · 2h 06m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Easy Living (1937)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A woman mistaken for a rich tycoon's mistress after receiving a discarded fur coat navigates comic chaos.

Directed by Mitchell Leisen · 1h 28m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Come and Get It (1936)

TMDB ★ 6.8

An ambitious lumber baron's ruthless pursuit of wealth costs him the woman he truly loves.

Directed by William Wyler & Howard Hawks · 1h 39m

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Diamond Jim (1935)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A rich railroad tycoon's legendary appetite for food and diamonds is matched only by his romantic pursuits.

Directed by A. Edward Sutherland · 1h 28m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Edward Arnold Movies

Meet John Doe (1941)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

Easy Living (1937)

Come and Get It (1936)

Diamond Jim (1935)

You might also like

250 Best Movies of All Time

6 Best Grassroots Campaign and Idealism Movies

6 Best Stanley Andrews Movies

6 Best H.B. Warner Movies

6 Best Wallis Clark Movies

6 Best J. Farrell MacDonald Movies